William Vincent is the story of a man who assumes a new identity for the sole purpose of disappearing in plain sight. He lives on the margins of New York City, both figuratively and literally. Chance brings him into the orbit of a vague crime syndicate made up of a trio of unlikely criminals, one of whom is Ann, the courtesan/confidante of the syndicate boss. William and Ann, brought together first through her professional role, fall in love, to the great displeasure of the Boss.

When the Boss prohibits William from seeing Ann, William’s reaction is swift and extreme, and forces him to flee the city, leaving behind Ann and whatever small life he had constructed for himself.